The first two houses I owned didn’t have porches. They were Victorian red-brick terraced houses with small front gardens and the absence of a porch meant that occasionally, we had to stand in the pouring rain while struggling with a key and shopping as we tried to open the front door as quickly as possible. That was the main disadvantage of not having a porch – there being no shelter from the elements when the weather is horrible.

Porches have many more advantages of course, depending on their size and shape. They offer more storage, a place to put those items frequently required for outdoor use such as boots and coats, they protect the front hall from harsh weather and prevent draughts, and they can make the front of your home look more attractive.

Would you like to save money on home improvements? You can still save up to 13.5% of the cost of home improvements or repairs if you get the work completed by December 2018. The Home Renovation Incentive scheme has been in operation since 2013 and is due to end soon so if you have been planning to get a new kitchen or bathroom, now is definitely the time.

Hi folks,
here is a video testimonial we received a while ago from Noel Breen. Noel posted two jobs, one was a plumbing job and the other was a plastering job. Noel and was very happy with the result. You can see the video feedback below:-

here are the results and video of our July Draw 2018. Each month we have a draw for everyone who hires a tradesman and provides feedback. So not only do you get up to 4 quotes from Rated Tradesmen but you also are in with a chance to win a cash prize as well!

The draw for everyone who hired a tradesman and provided feedback in the month of June was held on July 28th. The results are as follows:-

The current heatwave and drought is making us all rethink our use of water. The hosepipe ban has been in operation for a couple of weeks. Water is being restricted in some areas at night. Farmers and rural dwellers are reporting of their private wells going dry or having reduced water pressure. Given that we had an incredibly wet March and April this year, it does seem surprising that the country is short of water but that is the case.

This may not be a ‘once in a generation’ drought. With climate change occurring, this may happen more often. Some of my suggestions for conserving water are structural, designed for long-term planning, others are habit-forming and maybe you will continue them even when water is more plentiful.

A fireplace, even if there isn’t a fire lit in it, can warm up a room. They also provide a focal point within a room. Having chairs gathered around a fireplace is much more appealing that having them arranged in such a way that the television is the main focus. Fireplaces also bring character to the decor scheme. What if you don’t have a fireplace? How do you create a false fireplace? Here are some ideas so you have time to get the job done by the time the evenings get chilly in the autumn.

It’s a wonderful time for those interested in sport. For anyone interested in football, there’s World Cup fever. Wimbledon is starting to get exciting as we approach the end of the first week. My son, who is F1 crazy, tells me that there are five F1 races in six weeks.

If you are looking for a tasteful way to decorate a room for someone who is sport crazy, I’ve found some stylish and attractive sports wallpapers, perfectly suited for bedrooms, dens or studies.

here are the results and video of our June Draw 2018. Each month we have a draw for everyone who hires a tradesman and provides feedback. So not only do you get up to 4 quotes from Rated Tradesmen but you also are in with a chance to win a cash prize as well!

The draw for everyone who hired a tradesman and provided feedback in the month of May was held on June 30th. The results are as follows:-

Do you find that your fireplace looks rather bleak in the summer months when the fire isn’t lit? Or do you only light the fire at Christmas and on Sunday afternoons and wish it looked cosier for the rest of the week? Here are some ideas for brightening up the empty fireplace and turning it into an attractive feature rather than a dark empty hole in the wall.

Whether you need more floor space within your house or apartment or just want your rooms to appear more spacious, here are some tips for making the space appear roomier, bigger, less cluttered and more relaxing:-